Nepal Air Crash: Tragic Plane Crash in Kathmandu Claims 18 Lives
Posted by admin on 2024-07-24 |
In a devastating incident, a plane crash and subsequent fire during takeoff from Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, claimed the lives of 18 individuals on Wednesday.
The lone survivor, the pilot, is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital following the tragic accident.
After the crash at a Nepal airport on Wednesday, the civil aviation authority confirmed the recovery of 18 bodies out of the 19 people on board.
Purpose and Aftermath of the Flight
The CRJ200 aircraft, which can accommodate 50 passengers, included two crew members and 17 staff members of Saurya Airlines, were on a Pokhara-bound flight when the plane ignited around 11 am, as per Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki, who briefed news agency AFP.
The flight was reportedly being conducted for technical or maintenance reasons.
Details of the Incident
The aircraft failed to gain altitude, veered off the runway, tumbled down an embankment, and caught fire.
Television footage showed firefighters combating the flames and dense black smoke rising into the sky. Additional visuals depicted the plane briefly airborne above the runway before tilting and crashing. Other images revealed rescue workers sifting through the charred debris of the aircraft, scattered across verdant fields.
Firefighters and the Nepal army swiftly responded to the site. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.
Eyewitness Account and Tribhuvan Airport
The plane reportedly burst into flames after skidding off the runway during takeoff, a spokesperson from the airport informed NDTV.
Tribhuvan International Airport, known for being a tabletop airport situated on a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys, is recognized as one of the world's most perilous airports.
Nepal: A Hotbed For Air crashes
Nepal's air safety record has faced criticism, with nearly 350 fatalities from plane or helicopter crashes in the Himalayan nation since 2000.
The deadliest incident occurred in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside while approaching Kathmandu, resulting in 167 deaths.
More recently, at least 72 people perished in a Yeti Airlines crash in January 2023, which was later attributed to a pilot error involving the accidental shutdown of the engines.
